Turkmen traditions

Turkmenistan, like any Eastern country, is famous for its hospitality and friendliness. Guests are a real holiday for every family. They set the table with the most delicious and beautiful dishes. Bread and salt are sacred for Turkmens and it’s the main detail for any dish. Every meal is accompanied by green tea – Turkmens drink it in large quantities in the cold and even in heat. Turkmen honor Turkmens highly value honor. It carries not only by man, but also by his family and the whole race. Nobility is another feature of people. It’s a great shame for a man if he doesn’t keep his word. Spirit of kinship is strongly developed among the locals. Family is on the first place not only for women but also for men. Turkmens try to maintain good relations with neighbors. Sincerity is another quality that is highly appreciated by Turkmens. Folk wisdom says "Speak the trut...

The formation of Turkmen national costume is connected with climatic conditions, occupation and historical relationship. The traditional Turkmen costume was free and loose clothing that was met all the requirements for the nomadic way of life. Man's costume consisted of a loose shirt, pants and robe, which were made of cotton fabric. The robe was made of striped fabric (silk), usually red, white and black stripes. Footwear was shoes which put on over woolen socks. According to shoes, one could determine the status of the host. Rich people wore boots made of white leather on the heel as well as boots with galoshes “kovush”. But the greatest attention was paid to the headdress “telpek”, as hat which was made of black, white and brown lamb was the sign of manhood. “Telpek” is a unique hat, it protects from the heat in summer and from cold in w...

In Turkmenistan, as in other Eastern country, wedding is not possible without national traditions and ceremonies. Religious beliefs and ancient people’s traditions became intertwined in wedding ceremonies. Today the traditions lost their original meaning, got the symbolical one, and some traditions transformed into the relative ones. But, on the whole, wedding continue to save the traditional characteristics.As so often happens in the East, all costs directly related to marriage rest upon the groom's family shoulders. Therefore, all relatives of the groom's family help in preparation of the wedding.The tradition of the obligatory ransom for the bride did not lose its actuality. In addition, the groom’s part bears the expenses of the wedding. That is why, if there is a son in the family, the parents begin to lay up money while he is still a minor. A few words should be said co...

Bakhshi (Turkm. bagşy / bagshi) - folk singer among the peoples of Central Asia, generally performing at the celebrations. The word "Bakhshi" comes from the Sanskrit bhikshu - teacher. Mongolian Buddhists called bakhshi people who knew Uighur script, that is why in the XIII-XV centuries the word "Bakhshi" was given to scribes.In the existing system of Bakhshi education the significant place was given to poetry contests.In Central Asia Bakhshi were the guardians of national music and folk traditions, they also spread the classics.Music for the Turkmen is a life of people, placed in sound, honest story about the anxieties and joys, suffering and happiness, the beauty of the soul and heart disturbances. It is able to heal wounds, soothe, or pour into a human vitality.The art of folk singers in the country is highly respected and honoured. Their names are always within hearing, and the histo...

The modern science names Akhalteke horse as one of the most ancient in the world among 250 fixed breeds of horses. A lot of researchers are inclined to consider as it the most ancient breed of cultural horse breeding. The chronicles of Tiglatpalasar (1115 – 1077 B.C.) is considered to be the first historical data about oriental horse.Herodot described 10 sacred horses in the magnificent harness which conducted in front of the sacred Akhuramazda chariot in Xerxes’s army. These horses were cultivated on the Niseyskaya plain from “Merv up to Bulkh (modern Afghanistan) in Media”.The description of ancient nisey horse, harmonious, with the long thin and flexible neck, large eyes, fine-moulded head, and harmonious strong legs was kept…Long since, as the test of breed, the horse race on the distance from 10 to 50 km were arranged, and Akhalteke passed them with ea...